The Blues are welcoming Josh Fraser into their coaching race… so he will the successful caretaker put his hand up?
Plus Ken Hinkley is already making moves to build his footy department as the Devils eye a highly-regarded Cats figure. Read on in AFL Daily.
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FRASER STILL WEIGHING UP ENTERING BLUES SEARCH, WATCH ON SOLOMON
Carlton caretaker coach Josh Fraser says he’s still undecided on whether he wants to enter the race to become the Blues’ permanent coach after the club welcomed him into the process.
Blues head of football Chris Davies confirmed the club had asked Fraser to throw his hat in the ring but given him “the next week or so” to think about the call.
“I’ve had a conversation with him throughout this week to say that we think he should put his hand up,” Davies said on SEN on Thursday morning.
“I think he’s got the capability. It’s up to him now whether he puts his hand up or not.”
Fraser on Thursday said he was still weighing things up.
“I’m grateful. I’ll take some time to consider whether I’m part of that or not,” he told reporters.
“It’s considering everything that comes with being a senior coach. I want to make sure that, if I was to be successful, that I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
It comes after Seven’s Tom Morris reported Fraser is expected to formally apply for the gig alongside finalists James Kelly (Geelong assistant), Jaymie Graham (Fremantle) and Corey Enright (St Kilda), who advanced to the next round of interviews.
“It’s my understanding that Fraser will eventually be part of this process,” Morris said on Wednesday night.
“His coaching journey has been one where he’s had experience in every role — head of development, VFL coach, senior assistant coach this year at Carlton — (Blues CEO) Graham Wright handpicked him and brought him across, he was highly regarded at the Magpies.
“So, if he is the right guy, then he’s ready to go.”
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There’s been ongoing uncertainty around whether Fraser would officially go for the Carlton role on a permanent basis, despite the club’s stunning turnaround under his lead.
Carlton is 8-2 under Fraser and charged into finals contention in a remarkable resurgence since he replaced Michael Voss in May.
Like Fraser, there’s a question mark on Bombers interim coach Dean Solomon entering the Essendon race.
The Bombers have also narrowed in on a shortlist of coaching contenders, which includes Graham, Crows coaching director Murray Davis, Swans assistant Mark McVeigh and Bombers legend and ex-coach James Hird.
Solomon is also due to address media on Thursday morning.
DEVILS EYEING HIGHLY-REGARDED CATS FIGURE
Newly-appointed Tasmania Devils coach Ken Hinkley is already making moves to build his footy department.
Hinkley has met with Geelong’s Nigel Lappin in a bid to lure the highly-rated Cats head of development to the Apple Isle for a role at the 18th AFL club, reports The Age and SEN.
According to SEN, the Devils are prioritising the head of development role as their next appointment after installing Hinkley as coach last week.
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Lappin, who’s been at Geelong since 2009 and has been highly sought-after from other clubs, worked alongside Hinkley in his first season at the Cattery as an assistant coach and the two are believed to have maintained a relationship.
According to The Age, triple premiership Lion Lappin was in Hobart on Wednesday to meet with Devils officials.
Lappin also played alongside Tassie football director Alastair Lynch.
Former Essendon coach Brad Scott, who also played in those Brisbane dynasty teams in the early 2000s, was sounded out by the Devils for their head of football vacancy but declined.